Page 2173 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
There was a lot of discussion about the loose-fill asbestos insulation scheme, and the section starting at page 124 looks at the matters that were considered. One of the recommendations that did not make it into the report but is listed as a footnote on page 129 concerns recommendation 20 from the public accounts committee’s inquiry on this matter. The text that was proposed reads:
The Committee is concerned that government messages regarding the go-it-alone option are unclear. It is also concerned at an absence of clear principles by which the Asbestos Taskforce may accept or reject proposals by homeowners wishing to pursue the go-it-alone option. The Committee therefore recommends that—
the ACT Government reconsider its response to Recommendation 20 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts inquiry report into loose-fill asbestos contamination of domestic dwellings and allow home owners to go it alone.
That recommendation did not make it in. I think it is something the government should consider for a group of people—not all—who would like to stay where they are and have the advantage received by some of those that knocked down before the scheme was announced.
There are a number of other recommendations concerning the Mr Fluffy saga at recommendations 54, 55 and 56 where the committee recommends the government provide an update. They have got the numbers now. They should be able to give us a financial status of the loose-fill asbestos buy-back scheme. Recommendation 55 is that the government consider how undetected loose-fill properties will be detected and brought to its attention. Recommendation 56 looks at the government providing further information to the Assembly on the contaminated site under the Nudurr Drive extension between Crace and Palmerston, which apparently is the home of the original clean-up of Mr Fluffy asbestos.
Some time was spent with the Capital Metro Agency. You can all imagine some of the issues that were canvassed. The recommendation asked the government to reconsider the decision to use eucalyptus mannifera as the replacement tree, and there are a couple of other recommendations as well.
The 148 recommendations cover a large range of the issues that were looked at. As to the NDIS and community services, the committee recommends that the government include in its quarterly reporting information on the level of staffing in Disability ACT and Therapy ACT during the transition. We know that a significant number of jobs will go as a result of the move to the NDIS, and it is important that the Assembly is kept up to date on what is happening and what should happen.
One of the nicer areas we talked about was aged carers. Recommendation 72 is that the government look at the need for grandparents’ playgroups. That is not for the grandparents to play together; that is for the grandparents who are providing the role of carers. We well know a lot of grandparents are stepping in as many families have the need for both parents to be working. Recommendation 71 is that the government looks to work and identify and address needs in supporting aged carers—those who are looking after older people. Recommendation 72 is that we assist them in their roles as grandparents.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video